Yemen’s Saudi-Backed Council Issues 24-Hour Ultimatum to UAE for Immediate Withdrawal
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Yemeni Leadership Council, condemned the UAE’s increasing role in supporting the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and announced the cancellation of a mutual defense agreement with the UAE. Al-Alimi stated that Emirati forces must leave Yemen within 24 hours, warning that Yemen cannot afford new fronts of attrition. He also declared a 90-day nationwide state of emergency and a 72-hour suspension of all port and border activities.
The ultimatum follows a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on the port of Al-Mukalla in Hadhramaut, a stronghold of UAE-backed forces. Tensions between Saudi and Emirati proxies have intensified in eastern and southern Yemen, particularly in oil-rich Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, where STC forces have clashed with Saudi-aligned factions. The U.S. has expressed concern over the growing rift between the Gulf allies.
The STC, formed in 2017 with UAE support, has long been at odds with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, with past disputes frequently escalating into armed clashes in Aden and other southern regions.
